Wire-transport reel



Deb. 26, 1939..

- L. F.FYLES WIRE-TRANSPORT REEL Filed Jan. 19, 1937 n 'Z'IIII. VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 7 Y Lyndon? B/Les Flel.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1939 Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE WE'RE-TRANSPORT REEL Lyndon F. Fyles, Rochester, Vt. Application January 19. 1937, Serial No. 121,276

4 Claims. (01. 242-118) This invention relates to reels for transporting wire and the like and to methods of forming the same.

Anobject of this invention is the provision of reels wherein strength and durability is combined with economy of production.

A more specific object is the provision of. reels for the transport of wire and the like at a cost so low that return of the reels is unnecessary.

A further object is the, provision of low-cost reels which can readily withstand all ordinary conditions of shipping and use.

Another object is the provision of low-cost reels which are strong and will not warp or lose their shape.

Another object is the provision of a novel method of assembling the elements of a reel.

Still another object is the provision of a novel method for forming the core of a reel.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and wiil in part appear hereinafter.

- The invention accordingly comprises the article possessing the features, properties, and. the rela-- which Figure 1is aperspective view of a transport reel in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on enlarged scale taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the structural make-up of the elements; and

Fig. 4 is a complete cross-section of the reel taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Wire transport reels as now employed are generally of two different types depending on whether they are used for domestic or export shipment of wire. The domestic type, which are returnable, are usually of' a heavy and rugged construction so that they will withstand the wear and tear of repeated shipments, inasmuch as the empty reels are returned to the sender. Here the initial cost is high, depreciation is considerable, and charges are constantly being incurred for return shipment of the reels. Accordingly, shipment of wire in this manner is a decidedly expensive process.

has been made to keep down the expense by providing a more economical form of reel which is not as rugged as the domestic type and which 5 is not returned. It is' obvious, however, that the expense involved in shipping wire in this manner to both domestic and foreign points is a very considerable item.

With the foregoing and other difficulties in view; the present invention contemplates the v provision of non-returnable transport reels for wire whose cost is such as to introduce substantial economy into the field of wire shipment.

The invention further contemplates the provil5 sion of wire transport reels which, though of economical construction, are strong enough to withstand the rigors of both domestic and export shipment. l v

In accordance with the invention wire trans- 2o portreels of simple and economical construction and of laminated materials are provided at a cost below that'of reels as at present used in both the domestic and export trade; That is, the cost the normal transportation charges plus-depreciation charges on the conventional returnable type of reel.

The invention contemplates, in various of its broader and more specific aspects, the formation 3 of the flanges and/ or the core of thereel of com-v posite laminated material, preferably including at least one layer of wood and specifically consisting of plywood (two or more layers of veneer or other sheets of natural or artificial wood adhesively secured together); the formation of the core in sections which are expanded into place within the flanges; the provision of simple and eifective means for securing the core and flanges together; and the shaping of certain of the ele 40 ments to resist warping and other tendencies towards deformation.

By way of example there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing a reel. for transporting wire, or the like, in accordance with the invention. 45 The reel illustrated has a core A made up of sections 4, 5, and tor a cylinder, there being spaces as indicated at 1 between the sections for reasons that will appear hereinafter. In the outside of each of the sections of core A there are provided grooves 2B which, taken together, provide a substantially annular channel 8 in which is received .the interior (central) circular portion 9 of a flange or disk it whose formation is somewhat dish-like, as is apparent from Fig. 55

4. There is one of these flanges at each end of the core. Seated within each end of core A, as best shown in Fig. 3, is a plug H whose size is I such that it retains the core in expanded condition, and accordingly holds flange ill in place due to the engagement of channel 8 with portion 9. As contemplated by the invention in its more specific aspects, and as shown in Fig. 3 the sections of core A, flange i0, and plug it are all shown as formed of composite laminated material which is preferably ordinary plywood, but may be constructed from laminations of various materials, such as for example wood and paper, wood and metal, or wood and cloth. Natural wood may be replaced by artificial wood in certain instances. In the present instance each of the core sections 4, 5, and E is composed of layers 2!, 22, 23, and 24 of wood veneer; each of the flanges is composed of layers 3!, 32, and 33 of wood veneer, and each of the plugs II is composed of layers 4!, 42, Z3, 44, and d5 of wood veneer.

The purpose of the shaping of flange H1 is to provide a safeguard against warping, so that, while a dish shape is shown, it is obvious that a variety of shapes might be used for this purpose. The method of forming the reel illustrated gives a further insight into the merits of this invention. First the flanges are made by molding in a hot, or other type, press, or in a vacuum bag, into the desired shape, using the type of adhesive and laminae best suited to the case in hand. This operation not only secures the laminae together, but simultaneously forms the finished product into the desired shape. The flanges are finished by sizing, shaping and drilling in the desired manner. Obviously the hole cut in the center of the flanges should be such as to allow the core sections to pass into or thru it. The core sections are similarly formed by assembling laminations of core-forming material with a suitable adhesive material therebetween. These sections must be given a curvature, or other shape, as best shown in Fig. 2, of such a nature that they can fall in together to enable the composite structure to pass thru the apertures of the flanges and can then be expanded so as to snugly engage the walls of such aperture. Channels, as shown at 8 in the accompanying drawing, are cut in the external surfaces of the core-sections, these channels being of such a width as to snugly receive interior or central portion 9 of the flanges l0. Next there is provided a plug member I l, preferably also of laminated material, whose outside surface which engages the inner surface of the core-sections is of such a shape and size that, upon being driven into an assembly of core-sections surrounded by a flange member, it will force the core-sections into tight and rigid connection with sections 9 of flange H! which are engaged in channels 8. The plugs may be forced into place manually or by suitable mechanical means, and are preferably held in place by gluing, or by screws or other fasteners. The resultant core will necessarily have spaces between its sections depending upon the extent to which the core is to be expanded, but this separation of the core sections has no material effect upon the rigidity of the composite structure. It is not necessary that the core be round, tho that is the most simple conformation that can be employed in building up a reel in this manner. To facilitate the turning of the reel to wind wire thereon, the core plugs are provided with axle receiving apertures I2 as shown in the drawing.

Since certain modifications in the article, and certain changes in carrying out the above method, which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A reel comprising a pair of flange members each having a circular central opening therethru, a plurality of independent core sections spaced one from the other and each having an external groove in proximity to each end thereof and receiving an inner portion of a flange member, and a plug within said core sections'interiorly of each flange member and serving to retain the flange member and the core sections in interengaging relationship.

2. A reel comprising a pair of flange members each composed of plywood and having a circular central opening therethru, a plurality of independent core sections spaced one from the other and each composed of plywood and having an external arcuate groove in proximity to each end thereof and receiving an inner portion of a flange member, and a plug within said core sections interiorly of each flange member and serving to retain the flange member and the core sections in interengaging relationship.

3. A reel comprising a pair of flange members each composed of plywood and having a circular central opening therethru, a plurality of independent core sections spaced one from the other and each composed of plywood and having an a external groove in proximity to each end thereof and receiving an inner portion of a flange member, and a plug composed of plywood and disposed within said core sections interiorly of each flange member and serving to retain the flange member and the core sections in interengaging relationship.

4. A reel comprising a pair of flange members formed of plywood and of generally dish-shaped contour with a central circular opening therethru and with the peripheral portions thereof offset outwardly, a plurality of independent core sections spaced one from the other and each having an external arcuate groove in proximity to each end thereof and receiving an inner portion of a flange member, and a plug within said core sections interiorly of each flange member and serving to retain the flange member and the core sections in interengaging relationship.

LYNDON F. FYLES. 

